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Sheffield Crucible Theatre |
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Public Art
Over fourteen months ago the gutsy and visionary Crucible Theatre approached us at Freedom Studios with a unique proposition that would challenge the body of theatrical work the company had created to date. The Crucible Theatre challenged us to use our creative processes in order to realise works of art that would exist as permanent features within the newly refurbished building against a very tight brief. (Processes: the stuff that happens behind the closed doors of poorly heated rooms and is actually less like a process and more like a series of happy accidents. These accidents aren’t always happy sometimes they can be sad accidents, very, very sad accidents that make us use naughty words. But accidents nonetheless they are.) The theatre we create is by its very nature temporary and transient and the challenge of creating permanence was an idea we had never had to consider before, - that was until this challenge came our way. It has been a journey that has tested our happy and sad accidents, reaffirmed our relationships and allowed us to build new ones, and ultimately given us the unique opportunity to present two permanent sculptures -cue drum roll and fan fare - Leyla and The Wave After Hokusai in the newly refurbished Crucible Theatre. The response to the work has been beautiful.
FURTHER NOTES ON HOW THE COMMISSION CAME ABOUT
Freedom Studios is a relatively young company, based in Bradford, West Yorkshire and supported by the Arts Council of England as a Regularity Funded Organisation. Led By Artistic Director Madani Younis, the body of work produced by the company to date has been focused on the creation of original plays presented within theatrical contexts. This strategy of presenting work in theatrical contexts allows the company to make connections with Producers/ Programmers/ Curators/ Commissioners and share the true breadth of our artistic vision. The company’s strong network of Associate Artists who work across art forms inform the shared vision of the company in confronting theatrical and creative vernacular by challenging notions of form. The Sheffield Crucible Commission represents a significant milestone for Freedom Studios in demonstrating the company’s vision, and ability to use its creative processes to produce high quality evocative work across art forms.
WHY LEYLA?
The sum of experiences from relationships, the essence of which has been distilled in Leyla.
The voices that are heard through Leyla are the real life accounts of love and love lost as told by members of staff at the Crucible Theatre.
Leyla was conceived as a sculpture that would take an ordinary experience and allow for a moment of beautiful story telling to be shared with those that come to interact with it.
The name Leyla is a small homage to Layla Majnun the classic 7th Century story from the northern Arabian Peninsula of star crossed lovers.
WHY WAVE AFTER HOKUSAI?
An expression of my relationship to the world around me: fearless, provocative, vulnerable and honest.
Wave after Hokusai my conversation with Katushika Hokusai’s iconic wood cuts of the Great Wave off Kanagawa, created during the 1820s.
Wave after Hokusai was conceived as a sculpture that would allow audiences to feel enveloped by the still, powerful forces created by nature.
WHY WOOD?
With an elegant and proud architectural language running through The Crucible I was keen to create two moments in the building that would sit patiently and elegantly against its prevailing aesthetic. Wood, a living breathing material has always had an ability to tell a story for me, to be carved and affected to express the hidden vulnerable truths
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Street Voices 3 |
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Street Voices 3
Theatre By A New Generation of Writers
Do you have a story that people need to hear? Do you want to write a full length national touring show? Freedom Studios can help you realise your ambitions.
Street Voices 3 is a playwriting course for committed, emerging writers, particuarly from first and second generation born Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds aged 17 and over from Yorkshire.
This is an opportunity to say it the way you see it, without borders, without fear and without compromise, a chance to challenge theatrical conventions. This is an opportunity to have your work performed in front of live audiences in Yorkshire and London. This is an opportuntity to write a seventy-minute national touring paly for the company as And Freedom Studios is committed to commissioning a writer through Street Voices.
'I think Street Voices is a fantastic opportunity for any aspiring writer. It's a great chance to work collaboratively in a friendly, but professionala nd demanding environment.' Ben Tagoe, write on Street Voices 2 course, who has been commissioned to write a 60 minute play for Red Ladder Theatre Company.
What's the Scheme
Street Voices 3 will take place over five weekend workshops between May and September 2010 to develop and support emerging writers in the realisation of original twnety-minute short plays. There will be one to one mentoring sessions, feedback on work in progress and creative communication and exchanges.
Eight of the short plays will be performed by an ensemble of actors to the public and invited theatre writers, performers, directors and producers in October 2010. Workshops will take place on Saturdays and Sundays and will be hosted at Freedom Studios, Bradford, Teh Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield and Theatre in the Mill, Bradford. The workshops will be lead by Madani Younis, Artistic Director of Freedom Studios.
Do I Need To Have Written for Theatre Before?
No, you do not need to have written for stage. Street Voices 3 is a call to emerging writers at the beginning of their careers, slam poets, novelists, comic book writers, anyone who would value a supported approach to writing for stage. We would like to see something you have written as part of your application.
You do need to be motivated, open to constructive criticism and committed to writing and to the course dates.
How Do I Apply?
Request an application from hello@freedomstudios.co.uk, stating your full name and e-mail address. If you have any questions, send an e-mail to the same address.
Course Costs
Freedom Studios are committed to investing in emerging writers so you do not have to pay any fees. The course will cost you time, travel and effort.
'I have learnt that story is all; the alpha and beta on which the play stands of falls. I intend to use what I have learnt on Street Voices 2 to help build a career as a writer. It has been an excellent springboard for developing my skills and confidence in writing.' Cynthia Bernard, Street Voices 2 graduate
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Unit 4 |
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Unit 4
The next Unit 4 Event will take place in September 2009.
Freedom Studios produces 2 or 3 Unit 4 events annually at its offices at the Bradford Design Exchange. These platform events showcase the work of artists from within and outside the region.
‘A gathering of some of the most of the most innovative and originally minded artists from across the UK. An evening of sharing, explaining and platforming what the artists of today will be doing tomorrow.’ Madani Younis.
Interviewees have included Jatinder Verma, Artistic Director of Tara Arts and Parv Bancil, playwright. Featured musicians include Lauren Spink, Tom Gee and The Not Quite Quartet.
Unit 4 is attended by a diverse audience of individual artists, stake-
holders and funders who are interested in engaging in critical debate in response to pertinent issues in the arts. Video footage captured at the event is posted on the Freedom Studios web-site and on Babelgum and FaceBook.
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Theatre School |
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Theatre School
The next Theatre School programme will take place in spring 2010 and interested students should keep watching the ‘Home’ page for details about recruitment.
The Theatre School provides a programme of arts and theatre based professional development for aspiring first and second generation immigrant artists, enabling the stories of this generation of young people to be told. The project will take place in a semester-style programme during evenings and weekends throughout the year for 20 weeks, delivering practical skills, confidence building, hands-on industry advice, and the experience of working with a professional theatre company.
The programme is aimed at those who have a desire to work in the arts, but who lack either the confidence, the knowledge or the skills to initially go to the more conventional arts training agencies e.g. drama school. The Theatre School will be the first stage in helping to build confidence to enable participants to realise their ambition.
Participants will also have the opportunity to work with professional artists from a range of art forms and input into the company’s devising process of professional touring and collaborative work. All students receive mentoring from Artistic Director Madani Younis; they also have access to a range of resources such as books, DVDs and going to the theatre, whilst gaining on-going encouragement and advice.
The Theatre School is at the heart of what Freedom Studios aim to achieve - a creative dialogue and a platform for the voice of first and second generation immigrant artists - with participants experiences informing our core work and purpose.
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